Design Origins Mr. Grant Seder, an original partner of the architectural firm responsible for the design for the auto showroom, has provided the following insights on the structure's design origins: "...on the subject of the Chevrolet Showroom- actually Lew Williams Chevrolet when it was built. The service area was an existing building that had been a Coco-Cola bottling plant. Luckily, the front of the site had been left as a truck-loading area so the solution was pretty obvious. The only question was how to relate the building with it's east-west orientation, dictated by the existing building and the available site area, to people approaching at a slight angle, slightly uphill at 30 mph on Franklin Boulevard. An elliptical floor plan could maintain the east-west axis and still not give a cold shoulder to Franklin Boulevard. The gently-curving ceiling helped direct the eye down to the cars on display and was consistent with the elliptical building shape. Lighting was not subdued but not dramatic- as "natural" I guess, as possible. "Outdoorsy" as appropriate to sedans and station wagons. If the dealership were selling Porsches or Mercedes the lighting would have been more dramatic; maybe deeply-recessed pinhole spot down lights."

	Lew Williams/Joe Romania Auto Showroom/Display Pavillion (1959 - Balzhiser, Seder & Rhodes) Image from the Collection of TBG Architects & Planners/Inc. Grant Seder, Architect.
	Parthenon (447 BC to 431 BC, Iktinos, Kallikrates, Phidias) This is an image of the Parthenon replica in Nashville, Tennessee. The Parthenon and the Showroom exhibit features of Classical architecture such as columns to support the roof. Both structures are also raised upon a plinth or platform. You can learn more by visiting the Wikipedia Parthenon page.
	(1936, Works Progress Administration) Originally built as a public bathhouse, the San Francisco Maritime Museum is a strong example of Art Moderne or Streamline Moderne architecture. This style strives for an aerodynamic quality and sometimes exhibits maritime themes such as portholes. Corners are eliminated with the use of curved walls of glass block or stucco. For more information, visit the Wikipedia Streamline Moderne page.
	Farnsworth house Designed and constructed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe between 1945-51, this structure is clearly rooted in Modernism; in particular the International style of Modern Architecture. Walls of glass blur the distinction between indoor and outdoor. Clean lines and minimal exterior ornamentation connote simplicity. More information at the Wikipedia Farnsworth page.

Elsewhere in Eugene, Balzhiser & Seder served as architects for the 1956 construction of the former Lane County Chapter of the American Red Cross building, located at 150 E 18th Avenue (across from Safeway). The Unitarian Church in Eugene, was designed by Grant Seder in 1962. On the University of Oregon campus, Balzhiser Seder & Rhodes designed the University Health Services building (1965) and the Clinical Services building (1968). Grant Seder served as a partner of Unthank Seder Poticha Architects from 1968 to 1984. That firm is responsible for High Street Townhouses (1980) as well as the Lane County Public Services Building.